1 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: Hey, welcome in. I'm Doug Goliban. This is all ball, 2 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: all basketball, all the time, and we really appreciate you downloading. 3 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: The numbers have just exploded recently. Will continue to bring 4 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: you guests that I think you'll really really like. Um 5 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: and and this week is no different. Obviously, we had 6 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: Rick Byrd earlier in the week, and Rick is an 7 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: outstanding coach. He's gonna be in the College Basketball Hall 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: of Fame. Kind of his career ark and story and 9 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: how he built Belmont from a little known na A 10 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: club that was the second best in a school in 11 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: the city of Nashville to an elite mid major Division 12 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: one program. I think you're gonna want to listen, all right, UM, 13 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: I've been watching a lot of these college basketball teams. 14 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: I do need to give you some like a breakdown 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:59,279 Speaker 1: pod and things that are interesting. Jason Preston is our 16 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: guest this week or in this episode. By the way, 17 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: could you you downloaded already? Could you subscribe, rate, write 18 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: a review. I'm told that somehow helps me financially, and 19 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,320 Speaker 1: really that's what this is about. Making your boys some 20 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: more money. No, seriously, though, this is a this upont 21 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: there's some great things on the horizon. But you write 22 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: those reviews and I guess it just works first in 23 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: the business world. I don't really know. But and then 24 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: tell if if you have friends a basketball hoops fan 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: on my brother drives uh twelve hours um a week 26 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: as he's an assistant coach now or he's a on 27 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: staff at at Grand Canyon University, and he's like, dude, 28 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: this is He's like throwing out suggestions. Get this guy 29 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: that guy, especially this holiday season. A long drive, a 30 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: short drive, whatever. Tell your boys to download this stuff. 31 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: We have great stories and I try to get great 32 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: storytellers for those stories. Jason Preston is an unbelievable story 33 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: kid average too, I said to two points per two 34 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: points per game. His senior year in high school, he 35 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: started one game one. He's in his third year at Ohio. 36 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: You he's averaging twenty one game. He got to start 37 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: his entire you know, sophomore seasons, some his freshman season 38 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: as well. How do you go from not starting in 39 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: high school except for senior night to averaging twenty one game? Crazy, 40 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: he's gonna join us. I want to quickly go give 41 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: you some some thoughts here on this athletic um the 42 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: story that's coming out of l A with the kind 43 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: of the dissection of what went wrong with the Clippers, 44 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: the entitlement that was granted to Paul George and Kwiler, 45 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: Paul George saying, you know that I was used the 46 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: wrong way like Ray Allen coming off of pin downs, 47 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: and then other teammates complaining that Paul George and Kauai 48 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: Letter could call off practices that they had their own security. 49 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: It sounds like a lot of jealousy, right. And what's 50 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: what's fascinating about this thing is that if you're gonna 51 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 1: complain about a two time finals m v P getting 52 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: special treatment like that's called in the basketball being a bitch, right. 53 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: And the thing about the Clippers is they talked about 54 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: everybody else like everybody else was a world of bitches, 55 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: and they were apparrelying themselves alves in fighting and jealousy. 56 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: So look, I I want to make sure this is clear. 57 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 1: I I don't understand how the Clippers could have okayed, Hey, yeah, 58 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: while you can live in Sydney whatever you want, like now, 59 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: you gotta have some gotta be some boundaries, you know, 60 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: some boundaries. And the San Diego thing, that's just that's 61 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: just too far. I mean, look, I live an hour 62 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: from where I work or whatever. It's an hour and 63 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: a half with traffic, and that's that's far. Um there. 64 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: There's no part of even the northern part of San 65 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: Diego where he lives, that is in any way close enough. 66 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: Now I'm guessing he probably has an apartment close or whatever. 67 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: But it clearly ticked off enough people. And Tom Brady 68 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: actually had this when he was in New England. He 69 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: was at the peak of being Tom Brady. He was 70 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: taking a helicopter out of Foxboro after every game and 71 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: guys got ticked and they said something about it, and 72 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: they nixed it after like a season or two of 73 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: of doing it. So stars are always gonna push the 74 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: envelope and they'll get away with whatever you let them 75 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: get away with. And believe it or not, players do 76 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: in fact like discipline and and they see through things. 77 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: And I think that it might have been different had 78 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: either or both of those players grown up as Clippers 79 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: had the sweat equity there. They did not, So no 80 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: matter how well respected they were, you come in from 81 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: other places and you start, you know, saying this is 82 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: how I want to do things. When the Clippers had 83 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: established a culture, and he starts scratching your head. Why 84 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: would they change that culture and just relent in order 85 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: to get Quiet Letter. If you get Quiet Letter, you 86 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 1: get him, because hey, we're not the Lakers, it's your team. 87 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: We gotta call it character and culture of toughness, and 88 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: this is how you gotta fit into our team. Once 89 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: you make those mistakes and I'm guessing bombers involved in that, 90 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: then you know you acquiesced to too many of these 91 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: these desires. You're never gonna get control of the team. 92 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: And you have, you know, you basically have two different 93 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: kind of sex. You know, you have the superstars and 94 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: everybody else, and that doesn't go well. It's not the 95 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: reason that they lost, but it's a basis for a 96 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: bad foundation, and it's struck at the core of the 97 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: culture that they had built. All right, let's get to 98 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: college basketball. As we've had so much incredible competition, and 99 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: as I told you in our last podcast, I think 100 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: it's really really important that we don't over under we 101 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: don't overvalue some of the results of these games, because 102 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: you know, teams are playing three games and three days, 103 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: and many of them haven't paid in a competitive game 104 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: since last February. You know, you've got young players obviously 105 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: at a disadvantage on some level as opposed to older players. 106 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: But I think a good portion of this good portion 107 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: of it is teams are still trying to figure out 108 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 1: what they have. Remember there's no scrimmages, So saying that 109 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: a team should there shouldn't be in the n S 110 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: a ternman based upon the result of a third game 111 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: in three days is really really hard. But the one 112 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: thing we can see, we see it was we we 113 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: discover new players, we discover new town. Jason Preston is 114 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: one of those guys that America is just now discovering. 115 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: Jason Preston is a talented junior at Ohio University. He's 116 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: twenty one years old, He's six ft four, he's a 117 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: eighties seven pounds. He's added meat to his frame. And 118 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 1: I saw he was playing against Illinois last week on 119 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: Big ten Network and he had thirty one against io 120 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: Ao de Sumo, who is a really talented NBA prospect 121 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: guard for the line I. The lint I won by 122 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: a point, but Preston had I think thirty one and 123 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: six and really looked like the best player out in 124 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,559 Speaker 1: the court. It's a very good shooter, he's got good feel, 125 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: he's got a good big body, and and feels like 126 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: a guy who's got a chance to be an NBA 127 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: point guard. His story, though, was told in Big ten Networks. 128 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: So all I did was retweet this story and Twitter 129 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: kind of exploded. Everyone likes an amazing story. And so 130 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: instead of me telling it over and over again, or 131 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: instead of you watching him play out on how You 132 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: what you can? I reached down and said, hey, can 133 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: we have him on? And you know what, the folks 134 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: to know how you said? Jason would love to come on. 135 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: Here's my talk with him. What's it been like for you? 136 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, it's one thing to play really 137 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: well and to start earning respect in the basketball world. 138 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: But when your story kind of takes off and I 139 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: want to get into it, But what's the last week 140 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: been like for you? I'm has been crazy. Uh, definitely 141 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: something that I've never experienced before. And uh, it's it's 142 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: definitely surreal. Um, very blessed to be here and that 143 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: every everything that's going on going on right now. All right, So, 144 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: so you grew up in Jamaica, That's where you spent 145 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: most of your childhood. No, I grew up in uh, Florida, 146 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: my mom was born and I would so it's in 147 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: in Orlando, correct, Yeah, I go down to shop, so 148 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: your your your first memories of basketball are a where 149 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: and with him? Um, when I was four years old, 150 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: I would have like a little hoop in my house 151 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: and my mom and now we'd watch basketball games together. 152 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: What was she like? Um? Great person, very care very selfless, 153 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: She'd always put other people in front of herself and 154 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: just just an amazing person. What was it like when 155 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: she gets sick? Um? It definitely wasn't easy, and uh, 156 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: I definitely didn't like to see her struggle. But knowing 157 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: she's in a is in a better place now doesn't 158 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: have to suffer like she did before, is uh definitely comforting. Yeah, 159 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: I can't imagine. Did you know I in terms of 160 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 1: her letting you in, did she tell you right away? 161 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: When did you know that she was that she was 162 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: really sick? Um? Actually it was a couple of months 163 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: in like that, just close to her, you know, being selfless. 164 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: You know, she didn't want me to feel bad for her, 165 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: let it affect me in any type of way, So 166 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: she she kind of held it out for a couple 167 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: of months. Eventually she told you, did it affect you 168 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: like in terms of school and relationships and how you 169 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: were around other people? Um? Maybe personally, but I tried 170 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: not to let that affect other people. You know, I'd 171 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: be pretty selfish in me and you know, especially for her. 172 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: I didn't want to, uh ever let her see me 173 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: be down or anything like that. That would be pretty selfish. Um, 174 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: who was who supported you most during that time? When 175 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: you have you and her? But but who else was 176 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 1: was helping you? Because that's that's that's got to be 177 00:09:53,880 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: a really tough time in your life. Um. My my aunt, 178 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: her sister, she would sometimes come down. She uh really 179 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: help her her son, my cousin, and also very supportive. 180 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: And also her best friend would come with a lot, 181 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 1: make your meals helpful. What's your best friend's name? Uh, 182 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: Barbara Whisker And and and when she passed out, Barbara, 183 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 1: Then Barbara took you in right then? Or did you? 184 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: Were you with your aunt right after your your mom passed? 185 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: Barbara's son pick me in and also my aunt's sons. 186 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: So my cousin, that's what I got. So you're at 187 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: this time, Yes, your bounced from place to place. What 188 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 1: were you like as a basketball player? Um, I was 189 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: kind of really just a shooter. Um, at least from 190 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,080 Speaker 1: my high school team. Sometimes I'll go to Elie and 191 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: it's I could do some some other things in the basketball, 192 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: but like really applaying from my high school team, I 193 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: was really just a shooter. So, uh, in high school, 194 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: you're a late bloomer. Right at this time, you're eleven 195 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: six ft tall, right, And and when we read oh 196 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: we average to a game, like, were you in the 197 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: rotation or were you the guy that people at the 198 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:25,599 Speaker 1: end of the game you'd come in and you just 199 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,439 Speaker 1: try and get buckets because the game was over. No, 200 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: I wasn't. I wasn't really in the rotation. I was 201 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: probably I never started and I probably get about like 202 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: nine minutes a game. Yeah, some and some games I wouldn't. 203 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: You never started a high school game once. I started 204 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 1: one game for senior Night. But senior so you're you're 205 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:50,559 Speaker 1: the senior night guy, right, How long did he leave 206 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:52,599 Speaker 1: you in on senior That's the big thing. It's on 207 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: senior Night, Like is it one possession? Is it you 208 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: have to play the quarter? And you just balled out like, 209 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: how long did you get to go on senior Night? Um, 210 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 1: I think I played a good amount and senior night, 211 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: uh and senior night? Were you a good teammate? Like? 212 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 1: I just I mean, I just full disclosure, right, Like 213 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: I went to a different high school because I want 214 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: to play varsities a freshman. I played some and I'd 215 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: like to think I was a good teammate, but I 216 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: got to play all the time. It's really easy to 217 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: be a good teammate when you're playing all the time 218 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: when you're not and you literally love basketball and it's 219 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: a connection you have with your mom going back to 220 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: when you're four years old. Were you a good teammate 221 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: when you're down there in the bench and you're playing 222 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: very much? Um? Yeah, I definitely tried to be you know, 223 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: you know that that that that selfless person. You know, 224 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: it's bigger than me and our team was. It was 225 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: pretty successful in my whole time in high school. We 226 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: almost want to state championship multiple years. Um. But yeah, 227 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: I never I never tried to bed down or anything 228 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,839 Speaker 1: like that. Like all my teammates and I had a 229 00:12:54,840 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: pretty good relationship too. It was good. So so your 230 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: love for basketball, right because the one thing basketball will 231 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: do is it will kick your butt, and it will 232 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: you know if you love it a lot more than 233 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: it loves you. Was there a moment? Was there ever 234 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: time there were you're like, man, this is at for 235 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: this day? My deal, right, I'm just gonna do it 236 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: through high school? And that's it? Was? There? Was there 237 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: a moment you're you're waving the white flag on hoop um. 238 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if I ever officially gave up on it. 239 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: I just figured that I would need another option for 240 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: it if things didn't work out. And that's when I 241 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: was going to get entered the journalism at UCF. Yeah, 242 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: so you're gonna You're gonna go to UCF as just 243 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: a student, right, do inter murals? But then what happened? Yeah? 244 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: I actually I actually was taking summer classes at UCF 245 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 1: and it was this is like late July, so the 246 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: summer semester is almost over, and my friend asked me 247 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: to complain an AU tournament and it would have and 248 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,079 Speaker 1: I would have made like the fifth person. So it 249 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 1: everyone have only been five players and everyone's playing forty minutes. 250 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: So I said, why now I'll play, Okay, So where's 251 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: the tournament? Would you remember the location. It was two tournaments. 252 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: When it was in Georgia and the other one was 253 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: in Orlando at the Disney Wide World Sports And you 254 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: guys just had five dudes. Yeah, who's the coach? Uh 255 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: at Wardo Palm Palma palm Maalez. Okay, so you show up, 256 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: but you guys get jersey. You gotta bring your own jersey. 257 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: Just bring some black plinks, some white jersey. But I 258 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: remember someone someone that someone was wearing a shirt. Wait, 259 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: wait wait, somebody's what one of our teams were just 260 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: wearing a red shirt. We had red jerseys one of 261 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: the So you show up red jerseys looking on jankie, right, 262 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: don't have any plays. Let's just go hoop you know, 263 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 1: eyeballs one eyeball screen, Come get me? Was? Or was 264 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: Orlando first? Or was was was Georgia first? It was 265 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: Georgian first? All right, see you go. How did you do? Um? Georgia? 266 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: Georgia was really well, really well. There were some there 267 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: were a lot of really good teams in that one. 268 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: I think it was like a hoop session for it 269 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: was a really good tournament and we played really well, 270 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: like um, I think we were second in the like 271 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: a little tournament we were in. But like I said, 272 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: there are a lot of really good teams. So who's 273 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: your buddy? Who who asked you to play? The team 274 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: gave palm is the coach's son. So the coaches don 275 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: asked you to play? Was he good? He actually was 276 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: hurt so he couldn't play. He was he was really 277 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: just there. So he's the start recruiter, right. And at 278 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: this time, how tall arks you're You're done playing high school? 279 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: You're six ft you're senior in high school. This is 280 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: a couple of months after high school. This is in 281 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: the summer, right, So this is you know, a couple 282 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: months after high school is done. How big are you? 283 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: What about six one? So then you go back to Orlando. 284 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: Now you're back home, okay, and you're playing at the 285 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: Wide Wide World. Did you play well that tournament too? Yes? 286 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: I did. We we actually won that tournament. It was 287 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: another good tournament too. So so you win it, and 288 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: now now what take me through how you got to 289 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: the prep school? So after one of my games there 290 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: u n C Nashville coach uh said, we were all 291 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: full for this year, but we recommend prep school to you, 292 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: so we cannot potentially offer you next year. Uh, that 293 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: next game I play. I talked to a prep school 294 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: coach and then he convinced me to go down to 295 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: his prep school. What prep school? He was gonna take 296 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: me to a prep school down in Florida, But then 297 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: like a couple of weeks later he said he relocated 298 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: to one in Tennessee that was better. It was called 299 00:16:55,920 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: Believe Academy. They're gonna Believe Academy, right, and like this 300 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: is you all set to go to college, You're taking courses. 301 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: Then some coaches like, yo, you want to come play here, 302 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: but you gotta go to prep school for next year. 303 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: So and and you don't what were what was your 304 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: your mom's best friend, and what was your aunt? What 305 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: were they telling you you should do? Um? They were 306 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 1: supporting me, you know, they kind of put it. They 307 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 1: kind of put it in my hands too to make 308 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,360 Speaker 1: make good decision. I want to say. They were kind 309 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 1: of leaning towards towards school, but at the same time 310 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: they they allowed me to pursue my dreams. Well, look, 311 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: it's hard to believe though, right, Like if they watched 312 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: you play in high school and you're kind of descrub 313 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: right in high school and you're telling them like no, no, no, no, no, listen, 314 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:45,439 Speaker 1: trust me, I can actually get a scholarship likeship. And 315 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: then you know, then you're going to prep school in Florida, 316 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: Like no, no no, no, we're going to flip school in Tennessee. 317 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: It does. It sounds like a It sounds like somebody's 318 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: trying to get money from it. Sounds like one of 319 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: those emails you get from a from a guy who's 320 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: locked up in in London and the desk really needs 321 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,199 Speaker 1: to just send ten grands. That's what sounds like. That's it. 322 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: Now you're right, You're right, it does. It does alright, 323 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 1: So you show up Believe academy. Right, So it's one 324 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: of these kind of made up prep school deals and 325 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: there's four there's four teams. Was there any other school 326 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: or is it just kind of four basketball teams? No, 327 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: it was. It was. It was like sixty to seventy 328 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: kids that went there, and the other prep schools I 329 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 1: knew or I came to realize, only had like one 330 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: other team, but this this one had like seventy kids. 331 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: So it was split up into like four different teams 332 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: plus a high school team. Um. Two weeks into there, 333 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: the guy who brought me there actually ended up believing 334 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 1: the prep school, and so none of the coaches that 335 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: there really knew anything about me. So they put you 336 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 1: on the they put you on the D team to 337 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: start or the C team to start. I was on 338 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: the B team with him, but then once he left, 339 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: I got bumped up to the eight team. But like 340 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 1: I said, no one really knew knew about me, so 341 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: I didn't really play much on that team. Where are 342 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: you living at the time? We all lived in like 343 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: this little norm all all seventy of us lived in 344 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: this like one big building. What was that like? It 345 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: was fun? I had. I had like my two my 346 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: two roommates who uh convinced me to come down to 347 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: the seed team with them. But it was really fun. 348 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: A lot of bus rides, a lot of a lot 349 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 1: of fun memories. So you're taking out who are your too? 350 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: Two roommates? The names are Isaac Hill and j J. Romer. 351 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: So so during this time, do these guys know where 352 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: they I mean, you know how guys are, like, you're 353 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 1: prep school, They're all going to the league. I'm going 354 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: to I'm going to Kentucky? All right? Did they didn't 355 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:51,640 Speaker 1: even go like Hey, how good were you in high school? 356 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: Did anyone know that you didn't play much in high school? 357 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: It's actually funny. Uh. One of the roommates, Isaac, he 358 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: lived five team minutes away from me. He's from Orlando 359 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: to the same guy that brought me there brought brought 360 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: him there and we had never seen each other before, 361 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,959 Speaker 1: and and we lived fifteen minutes away from each other. 362 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: Now where roommates at in Tennessee. It's okay, So how 363 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: did you how did you do? You put a mixtape together? 364 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 1: How did it come to be? Where you you put 365 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: your highlight tape on on Twitter? So? Yeah, after I 366 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,440 Speaker 1: came down to the see team with them, I was 367 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: playing pretty well. And it's kind of late in the year. 368 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: It's like your January. I'm like, I need to get 369 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: some film for coaches. If I want to play basketball somewhere, 370 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: i'mnna need the coaches to be able to see something 371 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,880 Speaker 1: in me. So I asked the coach. On one bus 372 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: ride was like an eight hour bus ride from wherever 373 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 1: we were going back to Tennessee, and so I asked, asked, 374 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: if I get out of the film, I got it. 375 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:53,160 Speaker 1: So I'm just on this bus ride screen recording all 376 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: my clips. I get all my clips put together and 377 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: then I sent it over to my other friend back home. 378 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: He put it together then like a mix. After he 379 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:04,719 Speaker 1: does that, he sends it back to me. The believed 380 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 1: prep academy Twitter page posted and then I get a 381 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: d M from both Ohio and Long so so so 382 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: you get a d How long? How how much? How 383 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: long was it before it was posted and you got 384 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: a d M? Um, it was probably like two days 385 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 1: on the DM. The DM happened one day after it 386 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: was posted. The d ms at any point in time, 387 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: so you played for uh, a guy David Martinson right 388 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 1: at boone and like you said, good high school program. 389 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: At any point in time, did did your did your coat? 390 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: You make any contact with him like about like, hey, 391 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:47,680 Speaker 1: I'm at a prep school. I might go played Division one? 392 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: Like this is the guy who you weren't playing much for. 393 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: Was there any relationship there which he was almost surprised 394 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: at your success? Um? No, I really talked much with him, 395 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 1: to be honest. Um, sometimes he was like once or 396 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: twice a year, I'll go down and play basketball in 397 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: the in the school and I'll say, Hi, don't but 398 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: we really haven't talked much. So now now you now 399 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: you talked to Ohio you uh what what was it 400 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: about going up to Appalachia? Appalachia that that was like, Okay, 401 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 1: I want to do this. Um. So I went on 402 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: visits to both schools and it was it was it 403 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 1: was a hard decision. I really like the culture of 404 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: the like teammates and the guys around me, Like Ben 405 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: vanderposs is still here. He was my host. I really like, 406 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,920 Speaker 1: I really uh vibe with him once I got here, 407 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: and I thought it was a great fit for for 408 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: me and I felt I could play the way I'd 409 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: want to play here as well. So you show up 410 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: on campus, Okay, what do you remember? Was it like 411 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: this is after I've committed here? Yeah, Um, it was nice. 412 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: The campus is really nice. Um facilities are are are 413 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: nice and not nothing I've ever really seen. I mean like, 414 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: I mean like again, are you, like, first, how big 415 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 1: were you last year when you when you first showed up, 416 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: I was six, So you're still you're you're still growing, 417 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: You're still adding weight, adding muscle. Like as as this 418 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: goes on, did you feel like you belonged right because 419 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 1: there's this you know, C team B team, A team 420 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 1: prep school. You know that you go up, you got 421 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: two offers, Like when you showed up on campus, We're like, 422 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: oh I got this or was there was there a process? 423 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 1: Because a lot of guys. I mean, I remember I 424 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 1: showed up and I I had a really good high 425 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 1: school career and I was really well regarded and I 426 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: felt like I belong And then we started playing. I 427 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 1: was like, damn, these are men. This is a lot 428 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: harder than I thought. What was it like for you 429 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: when you first showed up. Um, you know I was 430 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: a little nervous about that at first, but um, things 431 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 1: things are pretty good for me to start. Uh. I 432 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 1: remember coming into my visit the coach telling me, you know, 433 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: you'd get like backup point guard role about fifteen minutes, 434 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: possibly growing over the years. Um, but I ended up 435 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: starting my first year. You know, things went pretty good 436 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 1: that summer and that fall before the season. Now, at 437 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,879 Speaker 1: what point in time did your teammates know you didn't 438 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: you only started one game in high school your college teams. 439 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,400 Speaker 1: When I first got here in my summer, I didn't 440 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: really talk to anybody, to be honest, I was kind 441 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: of very focused, ah, kind of isolated. I guess towards 442 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 1: the end of summer, you know, team bonding kind of 443 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:57,120 Speaker 1: went went on, and that's when I started to tell 444 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: people and they were like what yeah, yeah, yeah that 445 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: was that was the common reception. Yeah, what was your 446 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 1: first winner? Like winter? Oh that was that was? That 447 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 1: was something else. I mean I got a little bit 448 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: of a of a taste of it because I lived 449 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: in Tennessee and it would snow there sometimes. Um, the 450 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,640 Speaker 1: lowest suite to get it was probably like ten degrees, 451 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 1: which is which is similar to here. So I I 452 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: had kind of experienced it before. Um, but it wasn't cold. 453 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 1: Every cold and gray every day in the Midwest is 454 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: very very different than what you're what you're accustomed to. No, yeah, yeah, 455 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 1: it definitely takes took some adjusting to. But you know 456 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:50,239 Speaker 1: now now it's fine. It's fine. Your your game. And 457 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: I'm I'm friends with Rashot Phillips. We were we played 458 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: against each other, we played at the same time in college. 459 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: Obviously he's kind of a legend or Lando. He works 460 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: with guys and he was one first pointed you out 461 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 1: to me going back a couple months ago. Yeah, but 462 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,399 Speaker 1: it's not just that you've grown and you've added muscle, 463 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: Like your game has evolved. As you said, when your 464 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,679 Speaker 1: high school, are just a shooter, now you're a point guard. 465 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 1: Kind of does everything scoring point kind of does everything 466 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 1: take me through? Like in terms of work, are you 467 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 1: always an individual workout guy? Do you get in the 468 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 1: gym you just shoot, work on your game or you 469 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: just I want to go play and I just play 470 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: all day? Um? Kind of both of the last ones. 471 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,919 Speaker 1: Me and my my, my best friend Kobe, we'd always 472 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: go down to the gym. This is in high school, 473 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: you know, just play a lot of one on one, 474 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: watch a lot of film, and a lot of guys 475 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: like I watched a lot of watch a lot of 476 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: Lebron James, watch a lot of Chris Paul, those two guys. 477 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: I really studied both of their games heavily. And and 478 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 1: then obviously they have two of the weirdest step backs, 479 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: right Like Lebron's got that weird kind of step to 480 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: the side step at You gotta break that out. If 481 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: you really study Lebron, you gotta have the can you 482 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 1: make the Lebron sidestep weird step back thing? You know 483 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about? Right that that shotting shoots from three. Yeah, 484 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: I probably did it once last year. You gotta you 485 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: gotta break that. You gotta break that out and then 486 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 1: get the clip and then screenshot it on the bus 487 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: the same way you you you blew up and then 488 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 1: send it to lebron Be like, look, I have been 489 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 1: studying your game. And then Chris Paul like he he 490 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 1: only shoots going right, literally only, but you can't stop it. 491 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 1: There's it's just crazy how you can't stop the fact 492 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: that you know he's going right. So one of the 493 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: things that fascinates me about you is that you do 494 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: have good feel for game situations, end of games. So 495 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: it's not that you didn't play growing up. Obviously played 496 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 1: that Tennessee, he played that elite team, he played tournaments, 497 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,199 Speaker 1: but not having played in big moments in high school, 498 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 1: the prep school games don't always mean nearly as much. 499 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 1: How have you been able to kind of assimilate to 500 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 1: real games, to situations, time score, possession, shot clock and 501 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 1: things like that while while playing in college. Um, I 502 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: might not have played in a bunch of games like that, 503 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: But like I said, I've watched for years and years 504 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 1: and years a lot of a lot of close games. 505 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 1: Time and clock management, a lot of high key players 506 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 1: from you know, Chris and Lebron, And it's just something 507 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 1: that I that I look at and see that I 508 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: can then relate. You mentioned your friend Kobe. Where is 509 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: he now? Um, he's down in Florida right now. He's 510 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: looking to find a school for himself right now too. 511 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: So what what what is your relationship it like with him? 512 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: Since kind of you blown up and you become this 513 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 1: kind of mega star. He's like, that's my boy, that's 514 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: the gym in high school. I do it all along. Oh, 515 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 1: nothing's really changed, you know. I still talk to him 516 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: like every day. Um yeah, he he actually went viral 517 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: one time in high school himself. Is uh not? Nothing 518 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 1: has changed? Nothing nothing, Okay, So then this is what's 519 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 1: This is what's crazy though, right Like you've gone viral, 520 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: you've blown up. Everybody knows you are, but there's there's 521 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: nobody on campus. There's nobody to come up and be 522 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: like you know, I had I saw that sell you 523 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 1: on social media. Alright. So the the good is everybody 524 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: knows you are. The bad is and it's not helping 525 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 1: you as much with the ladies as it should be. 526 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: Oh no, I no, I actually I have a girlfriend, 527 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: and I have a girlfriend, so she's probably happy for 528 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: the social distancing of everybody else, right, because everybody it 529 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: would have been a bunch. But but um, this team is, 530 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: this team is very talented. Um. What you learned from 531 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: the Illinois game, Um that uh, you stay consistent. You no, 532 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 1: we could play with anyone in the country. You know, 533 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 1: I was very proud of our guy. You know, we 534 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 1: watched a lot of film prior to the game. You know, 535 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: it was it was the third game in three days, 536 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: but we have been watching before and especially after our 537 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 1: first two games. We really made a game plan on 538 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: attacking what they would do on ball, screens and whatnot. 539 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 1: And our guys executed great. DJ Wilson said, great screens, 540 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 1: Ben Van Uposter screen on both ends, Lendon mcdal on defense, 541 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 1: Myles Brown defense. You know it was. It was a 542 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 1: great effort and we just got a stake consistent. Now 543 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 1: I got a chance to coach Kofy in one of 544 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:35,720 Speaker 1: these Peano steals, which is like they just go up 545 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: and down dunk on each other. And one, I really 546 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: like him as a as a kid. But two, that 547 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 1: is a grown ass man, right, That is a that 548 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 1: is a big They don't have dudes like that in 549 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: the MAC. They may have used to have guys like 550 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: that in the MAC, but they don't kofe Kobe Kober 551 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 1: and what what What was he like to play against? Yeah, yeah, 552 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: you're right everything he said, It's true. He's huge. He's huge. 553 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,480 Speaker 1: And it's crazy because I would say DJ he held 554 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: his own you know that at the time, he'd be 555 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: backing him down in DJ with was chesting him up, 556 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: walling him up strong, and it was it was impressing. Yeah, 557 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: I mean that's that's that's a big that's a big 558 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: human being. And I was like, man, I first saw him, 559 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: he was like sixteen. I was like, no way, chow 560 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: me his driver's license, Like okay, okay, I'll buy it. 561 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: I guess you are. I guess you are sixteen. That 562 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: is a big dude. For for you personally, what do 563 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: you want to improve it? What do you want to 564 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:34,760 Speaker 1: get better at UM? For this this year? I definitely 565 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:41,320 Speaker 1: wanna cut down on my turnovers UM and also shoot 566 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 1: more off the dribble, maybe get more threes up this year. 567 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 1: Those two areas of something I really worked on. What 568 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 1: has the season been like with so much should be unknown, 569 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: you know, and it's it's weird because again this kind 570 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 1: of comes back to I'm guessing prep school probably prepared 571 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 1: you for it better than some other guys. More the 572 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 1: traditional route in that the three and three days, that's 573 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 1: like an AU tournament rate. That's you know, everybody makes 574 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: it out to be so hard. That's better. I'd prefer 575 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 1: to play as as a practice and have to play 576 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 1: defense the whole time. Um. But with all the unknown, 577 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:18,720 Speaker 1: with having a social distance from other students, with having 578 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: to you know, kind of just be you know, be 579 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: safe and be smart. What's this been like for you 580 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: for you? Oh, I mean it's been an adjustment, but 581 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 1: I I don't mind it. Uh, classes are going pretty 582 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 1: well for me. You know, I got a nice little 583 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:38,800 Speaker 1: schedule going on. Um, you don't see too many people, 584 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 1: but that's fine, you know, you learned to adjust. Iive 585 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: of my roommates that are on the team. Um, Like 586 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 1: I said, I have my girlfriend and it's fine. When 587 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 1: when when people see your story, when they hear about uh, 588 00:32:56,320 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: when they hear about your mom and how you kept going, 589 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: when you hear about high school and you kept going, 590 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: what does that come from? How do you how do 591 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 1: you relate to somebody else's going through a tough time 592 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:11,640 Speaker 1: that there can be something better on the horizon. Um, 593 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 1: I would say really just having faith, trusting in God's 594 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:18,720 Speaker 1: playing and knowing that everything happens for a reason. If 595 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: you can truly believe and everything happens for a reason, 596 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: you know you'll you'll get through a lot. But but 597 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: but how like like the world was kicking your ass 598 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,720 Speaker 1: for a while, right it was? It was handing you 599 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: asked opens And but I mean in those in those 600 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 1: moments where you're like, my mom, is is everything I have? Like? 601 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 1: How do you? It's great to say you have faith? 602 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: But is it simply praying to God? Is it finding 603 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 1: it within your soul? What? How does how does that work? No? Yeah, 604 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 1: it is? You know, and it goes a long way. 605 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 1: And my mom would always would always tell me that 606 00:33:56,360 --> 00:34:01,320 Speaker 1: to just stay strong, Um, keep praying to God and 607 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 1: everything will work itself out. And I'm telling you, if you, 608 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 1: if you, if you truly believe in you and your 609 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 1: faith is is is strong, it can take you a 610 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 1: long way. Is it harder to make it what you've 611 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: done or to sustain it? Right? Because last year you 612 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: got to start as a freshman out of nowhere. Now 613 00:34:20,239 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 1: everybody knows who you are. Is it more difficult now 614 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 1: when you're you're on top of people's scattering reports? You know? 615 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 1: I would always say it's harder to sustain. You know, 616 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,400 Speaker 1: it's kind of easy to be the underdog, you know, 617 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:37,680 Speaker 1: when when it's more expected of you, I would say 618 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:41,279 Speaker 1: it's probably harder in this scenario. I don't know. I 619 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:45,800 Speaker 1: don't really like look at it as pressure to to 620 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:48,840 Speaker 1: keep performing, you know, I'm just trying to do whatever 621 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:54,120 Speaker 1: it takes to win each night. Well, I'm I can 622 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:57,319 Speaker 1: tell you from the people I know in Orlando and 623 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:00,160 Speaker 1: from kind of everybody who has followed the store, eight 624 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 1: people are just amazed by your perseverance and by what 625 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:06,440 Speaker 1: you've done. And it does feel like it's only you 626 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:09,839 Speaker 1: kind of only cracking the surface, right, like you just 627 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: it's one of those the more you watch, the more 628 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: you're gonna getting better. And now you're getting that kind 629 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 1: of scores confidence and almost little arrogance where you just 630 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: know it's going in, right, does it? Is it? It 631 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:22,840 Speaker 1: feel different before you believe it, but now everybody in 632 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:25,480 Speaker 1: that bench believes it. That's that's gotta be a little different, 633 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 1: different deal. Yeah. My teammates they always tell me to 634 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:31,799 Speaker 1: keep shooting. They they know I like to pass, but 635 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:34,080 Speaker 1: you know, they've instill a lot of confidence in me. 636 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:37,359 Speaker 1: And it's it's Uh, it's awesome. Definitely looking to keep 637 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 1: growing at this season. How many shots today? Um, I 638 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 1: don't know a specific number, but before and after every 639 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 1: every practice, for about twenty minutes each I get up 640 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:55,879 Speaker 1: a lot of shots. Listen, congrats on your success so far. 641 00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 1: I can't wait to see what's next from you. And uh, 642 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:01,520 Speaker 1: I really appreciate you on this on the pot, thank you. 643 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:05,640 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. It's pretty crazy stuff, right, And the 644 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,400 Speaker 1: demeanor he did feel like he got a little emotional 645 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 1: obviously talking about his mom, And who wouldn't. You're fifteen 646 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 1: years old, you lose your mom to breast cancer, and 647 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:16,840 Speaker 1: you start, you know, living in multiple places. But to 648 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:19,759 Speaker 1: have that sort of belief in self to never give 649 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:23,680 Speaker 1: up on your dream, even when I looked at you're 650 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 1: going to college as a regular student, that's usually time 651 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:29,400 Speaker 1: when you should give up that idea. And then to 652 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:32,239 Speaker 1: go from that to being a recruited scholarship athlete, and 653 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:35,319 Speaker 1: from that to being a starter in college basketball so 654 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 1: early in his career. The whole thing is nothing short 655 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,840 Speaker 1: of absolutely remarkable. And I hope you appreciated it. I 656 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:44,920 Speaker 1: hope you liked having play without players on. We have 657 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:47,400 Speaker 1: coaches on, we have NBA players on. Make sure you 658 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:50,360 Speaker 1: tell friends you tweeted out. You download it, you subscribe it, 659 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:54,080 Speaker 1: you rate it, and you review it. I really appreciate you. 660 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,319 Speaker 1: Listen to the daily radio show that's three to six 661 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:59,319 Speaker 1: Eastern twelve three Pacific on Fox Sports Radio or Fox 662 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 1: Sports Trade Dot. I'm the I Heart radio app. It's 663 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:03,200 Speaker 1: called the Doug Gotlip Show. Thank you so much for 664 00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:05,480 Speaker 1: downloading this. I'm Doug Gottlieben. This is all ball